A member of the Federal National Council (FNC) has proposed a federal dress code to be enforced across the UAE. Hamad Ahmad Al Rahoumi’s recommendation was prompted due to the decision of some European countries to ban the wearing of hijab and niqab and the UAE residents’ growing opposition to indecent dressing of some people in the Gulf country.

Al Rahoumi, a member from Dubai, justified his proposal and said: “All Western countries enforce their laws on others when they come to work or visit their countries. For example, they have bans against the niqab, or face veil, and hijab, and this is their right. As as a result, the UAE has Arab and Islamic culture and traditions and others should respect them if they like to stay and visit our country.”

Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Head of the National Council of Tourism and Antiquities, seconded the demand. “The National Council of Tourism and Antiquities is doing its best by orienting and educating expats about the necessity to respect Emirati traditions, culture and norms,” he said.

Al Rahoumi appealed to the government to issue such a law in order to force both expats and tourists to dress modestly and to behave in a good manner that is in line with “our culture and tradition”.

“We are not asking them to wear niqab or to wear hijab; we seek them to respect our culture and to behave decently. For example, two foreigners were kissing in public at a mall in Dubai in a manner that made everyone to pause and stare at them. Such bad conduct will badly affect our siblings and youngsters,” Al Rahoumi said.

“Since malls are accessible to all people, we don’t accept being in a place where immoral acts and dresses are quite common,” he said.

He also stressed the need to create awareness among tourists and expatriates when they arrive in the country about what is acceptable and not.“The concerned parties should distribute brochures listing the rules. And posters should be everywhere in the airports and shopping malls to orient expats on how to behave,” Al Rahoumi said.

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